As your furnace turns on and prepares to add warmth to your residence, it’s normal for it to make some noise. These sounds, including the burners igniting and the blower running, are all part of the usual start-up steps.

But there are a couple of approaches you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.

1. Book Annual Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance is highly important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps shield you if something big stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.

It can also help our professionals discover little issues that can make your furnace noisy. And possibly help you sidestep a breakdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can decrease your likelihood of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.

If small furnace troubles go ignored, they may lead to trouble down the road. By uncovering these problems sooner, our professionals can get your furnace taken care of before heating season is at its peak.

And most critical, specialized cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces can help make it more efficient. A well-maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your heating expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

2. Routinely Put in a New Furnace’s Air Filter

Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional fuel and make it stop working faster.

Our suggestions for replacing your furnace filter:

  • Flat filter: Once a month
  • Pleated filter: Every three months

You could have to replace your filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.

3. Contact B & G HVAC When Your Furnace Is Creating Odd Noises

Some furnaces, especially older ones, may make more noise than others. But if you’re detecting exceedingly loud or strange noises, you might need to call a heating and cooling company like B & G HVAC for furnace repair in Marshalltown.

Here are a couple of noises to keep an eye out for, how to repair them and when to call a specialist.

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s due to the fact they exhaust fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties discharging this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need skilled support for this trouble, since it could be created by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.

Furnace Making Banging Noise

It’s not a positive thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It might mean a couple of things.

Haven’t scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when beginning? Its burners may be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which results in gas accumulating within your furnace.

All that built-up gas can make a banging or booming racket when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, since the increased gas is erupting within your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve forgotten regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give B & G HVAC a call at 641-316-3360. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s working correctly.

Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace switches on, because the metal is expanding and contracting.

We suggest first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s filthy. Next, double-check you don’t have too many vents closed in your residence, as it can throw off air pressure.

If neither of these things repair the issue, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for assistance from a skilled HVAC specialist.

Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise

If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a symptom there’s an electrical problem. This is most usually seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will create an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It can also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need assistance from a professional heating and cooling company like B & G HVAC.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s typically a symptom that an internal part is going out. This might be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It may also be an indication that your burners need cleaning.

These problems are usually uncovered during annual maintenance performed by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your residence performing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about requesting your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

A clicking sound may be the result of things: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition troubles. All these problems need pro help.

At B & G HVAC, our experts are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or producing odd sounds, contact us at 641-316-3360 to book an appointment today.